You will interrupt your rotation for Discharge 1 GCD (wither right before, if Pure Darkness) after it comes off CD. Dark Ward is off GCD, and low focus costing, so you will use it on CD if it is down. Otherwise, refresh it right before it falls off, or if you anticipate becoming CC’d in the future.

Assassinate does good damage compared to Thrash, approximately 50% more. However, it does nothing to keep up Exploitive Strikes, does not crit as hard as Thrash, and thus should only be in your rotation if Exploitive Strikes/Energize are up and not in danger of falling off soon.

To maximize your rotation, do not shock until Energize or Exploitive Strikes is about to expire, and use Death Field or pool force with Saber Strike (do not force cap however, Shock or Thrash if you are close to 90+ force).

The maximized rotation may be summarized by this:

IF Raze is UP, Crushing Darkness.

IF Exploitive Strikes is UP, assassinate (<30%).

IF Energize is NOT up, thrash constantly.

IF energize is UP, Exploitive Strikes is DOWN, Shock.

IF energize is UP, Exploitive Strikes is UP, Force is <70, Saber strike.

IF energize is UP, Exploitive Strikes is UP, Force is >70, Shock.

*Death Field, from my testing, may not have a place in a single target rotation. It suffers from

Inability to be used when on GCD. That means you spend time clicking and waiting, wasting dps.

Barely more (perhaps equal) DPS to Thrash, without any proc or crit bonuses.

Self heal is fairly useless and insignificant.

Multi Target

Let me preface this by saying that Assassin tanks really shine in single target tanking/dps. If at all possible, let another tank AoE tank.

Your mitigation suffers horribly without Dark Ward, and it goes down quickly when there are more than 1 enemy on you. Note that Thrash does more damage at lower force than Lacerate at 3 or fewer targets. Do not AoE in that situation unless you desperately need to hold threat.

Stats

Mitigation

With Dark Ward up, Assassins have the following base mitigation with 0 rating.

16% Defense

35% Shield

24% Absorb

Mitigation in SWToR uses a 2 roll system. First defense is rolled against. If the attack passes, it then rolls against Shield.

Because of this, it is impossible to become “unhittable” (Full Combat Table Coverage) as is the case in WoW.

Stack defense and absorb until ~700 rating. Then start moving defense to shield and absorb.

Gear

Crafted Epics

Below is a tentative list of the best gear combination you can get with crafted epics.

*Note: The Tionese Survivor’s Shield Generator is the ONLY shield generator available (through daily HM Flashpoints) at this gear level. You can also opt for the Prototype shield generator avaiable through Corellia commendations.

The gear list assumes you are using Custom gear, including bracers and belt, and that all your gear is [Mastercraft] when possible. Please count your augment slots, and total your ratings, so that you can make the right decision as to what augment to purchase.

These are not finalized and are pending simulation and revision.

Earpiece – [Veracity Hyperaccelerated Resistance Module]

Implantx2 – [Veracity Nano-Optic Resistance Implant]

Shield – [Tionese Survivor’s Shield Generator]

Armorings – Force Wielder or Resolve; These do not impact avoidance/mitigation.